What F15 actually means
The machine has found a problem with the part of the control that switches the heater on and off, so the water isn't being heated.
On Indesit machines that use this fault list, F15 is a heater control fault. The control board watches what happens when it calls for heat, and if the current or temperature readings don't behave as expected it shuts the heating down and stops the programme. Typically the wash either runs cold all the way through or sits and pauses partway, often with the clothes still soaking and the drum full.
What usually causes it
- Failed heating element in the wash drum
- Heater relay on the main control board stuck or burnt out
- Faulty thermostat or temperature sensor giving the board wrong readings
- Loose or corroded connection at the heater
- On washer dryers, a fault in the drying heater circuit rather than the wash heater
What you can safely check yourself
Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.
- Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then back on and restart a short programme — occasionally a one-off glitch clears
- Confirm you haven't accidentally selected a cold wash or an eco programme that heats very little, which can be mistaken for no heating
- Check the cycle is running with the door properly shut and the machine not overloaded
When to call someone
This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and it's £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it — £84 in total if it's repaired on the visit with no parts needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.
Other Indesit washing machine codes
- Indesit F01 — The machine has spotted an electrical fault in the part of t…
- Indesit F02 — The machine has stopped because it can't drive the drum prop…
- Indesit F06 — The machine can't confirm the door is locked, so it won't st…
- Indesit F07 — The control board has spotted a problem on the heating side …
- Indesit F08 — The machine has a problem with the water heating side of thi…
- Indesit F09 — The washing machine's control board has lost or corrupted th…
- Indesit F11 — The machine can't see the drain pump electrically at all, so…
- Indesit F12 — The machine's control board and its display/selector unit ha…